Back in January, workers at the future joint-venture Ford EV battery plant known as BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky officially filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board to join the United Auto Workers (UAW), a move they say stems from concerns revolving around worker health, safety, and a lack of communication. BlueOval SK called the move “premature” based on the fact that most of its workforce hasn’t been hired yet, nor has production begun, and subsequently filed a complaint with the NLRB of its own.
Now, according to Louisville Public Media, Blue Oval SK Battery Park workers now say they’ve received federal approval to hold a vote to join the UAW, a move that comes amid claims that BlueOval SK officials are trying to prevent that from happening. Thus far, the UAW has filed six unfair labor practice complaints with the NLRB itself, claiming that BlueOval SK has “threatened, restrained, and coerced workers,” destroyed union materials found around the facility, threatened to close the plant, and fired workers who show support for the union.
“We’ve been fighting this whole time, and we’re not going to stop,” said production operator and union organizer Amber Levay. “The NLRB has finally gotten back to us. They did their best to push and push and push for as long of a way as they could get. But we finally got our election. We have finally heard back, next time you see me, we will be in negotiations.”
As Ford Authority previously reported, BlueOval SK workers that support joining the UAW are doing so for a few reasons. They claim that BlueOval SK management has thus far ignored worker concerns pertaining to safety, and have concerns about being exposed to fire, electrical, and chemical hazards, as well as mold, which became a problem at the site last year. Additionally, BlueOval SK workers are concerned about the fact that they reportedly make less money than employees at other Ford plants in the state.
No Comments yet